Many communities impose fees on charities to help cover community services paid for through property tax dollars. About a month ago the city of Deerfield in Florida decided to impose fees for fire services on nonprofits for the first time. The goal was to reduce the pressure on property taxpayers in the city who were already facing a significant increase in the fees they would owe. After hearing from nonprofits, especially churches, the city commissioners agreed to reverse the decision. Nonprofits will not be reasonable for any fire fees. The change will mean even higher increases for individual homeowners and businesses. This year the fee on a single-family home will increase 44%.

One city commissioner said that in the case of churches, it felt like people were paying the fee twice - once at home and once at church - and that did not seem right.